BYD recently debuted a 5-minute electric vehicle (EV) charging system, a game-changer in the ever-growing industry.

BYD’s 5-minute EV charging system means all-electric cars can charge as fast as internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles fill up at a gas station. EV charging times remain one of the concerns consumers dwell over when transitioning from ICE to electric vehicles. BYD’s new 5-minute EV charging system might expedite electric vehicle adoption across the globe.

According to Reuters, BYD plans to build a 5-minute EV charging network across China. The Chinese automaker calls its rapid charging technology, the “super e-platform.” It can reach a peak charge of 1,000 kilowatts (kW). BYD’s super e-platform can fully charge an electric vehicle with a range of 249 miles (400 km) in 5 minutes.

BYD has developed a few technologies to create its 5-minute megawatt charging system. For instance, BYD developed batteries with a 10C charging multiplier, meaning they can charge at 10 times the cell’s capacity per hour. The Chinese automaker has also created high-power motors, high-volt silicon carbide power chips, and fast chargers that support 1,000 kW of power.

Tesla, which would be BYD’s biggest competition in the EV charging space, has a 400-volt system that can charge up to 250 kW for its EVs. The Tesla Cybertruck uses an 800-volt architecture with a maximum rate of 350 kW. Meanwhile, the Tesla Semi truck has a 1,000-volt powertrain.

BYD’s 5-minute megawatt charging system could make significant waves in the EV industry. However, it would depend on the super e-platform’s compatibility with other EVs.

Tesla has managed to open its Supercharger Network to non-Tesla EVs, helping it grow and reach new customers. The company has also managed to get other EV makers to adopt its NACS connectors, at least in the United States. It would be interesting to see if BYD can gather as much support for its rapid charging system in China and among Chinese EV manufacturers.

Tesla and partner Arevon have completed the second phase of an energy storage site in Southern California, as highlighted in a short video shared this week.

On Monday, Tesla’s Megapack account on X posted a brief video on the Kern County, California “Eland” storage site, which was recently expanded to offer 300MW/1.2GWh of Megapacks supporting 758MW of solar. The so-called “Eland Solar-plus-Storage Project” site now features 172 Megapack units and 1.36 million solar panels, which the companies have previously said is roughly enough to power 200,000 homes annually.

In the video, Tesla also notes that the facility has site-level controls to regulate power output, “providing a firm resource to the grid,” and supporting the Los Angeles climate goal of reaching 100-percent renewable electricity by 2035. You can check out the clip below.

758 MW of solar supported by 1.2 GWh of Megapack at Arevon’s site in Kern County, California pic.twitter.com/HTP92uYVIP

— Tesla Megapack (@Tesla_Megapack) March 17, 2025

READ MORE ON TESLA MEGAPACKS: Tesla Megapack project in California housed in former steam plant

Arevon announced the official start of operations for Eland 1 in December with 150MW/600 MWh, and the Eland 2 phase has effectively doubled this. The company also appears to be on track for its targeted opening of Eland 2 in Q1 this year, though it’s not clear at the time of writing if Arevon has yet announced a start of operations for the second phase.

Last February, Arevon announced that it secured a $1.1 billion financial commitment for the remaining parts of the Eland 2 Solar-plus-Storage project, together with Eland 1 becoming one of the largest solar-plus-storage installations in the U.S. The projects also include a long-term purchase agreement from the Southern California Public Power Authority, which plans to facilitate contracts for the LA Department of Water and Power and Glendale Water and Power.

Tesla’s grid-scale Megapack batteries can store and deploy generated energy to the electrical grid, especially during periods of peak power usage, high demand, or outages. Coupled with solar or other energy sources in these kinds of solar-plus-storage sites, Tesla’s Megapacks can help support renewable energy for long periods of time, or at least add stability to the grid.

Over the past couple of years, Tesla has been deploying large-scale Megapack projects in markets around the world, as backed by an initial production facility in Lathrop, California. This “Megafactory” aims to eventually produce 10,000 Megapack units, or 40 GWh, per year, and it has been ramping up production since late 2022.

In November, the Lathrop Megafactory officially produced its 10,000th Megapack, and Tesla also started production at a second Megapack plant in Shanghai, China last month, after starting construction on the site last May. The Shanghai Megafactory is also expected to have a volume annual production of 10,000 units per year.

Additionally, Tesla has teased plans for a third Megafactory, though it has yet to disclose where such a facility would be built.

Tesla’s massive Megapack site near Melbourne is almost ready

Two of the top Tesla executives recently spoke about the Cybercab in an interview with a longtime manufacturing industry expert, sharing details about the electric vehicle’s (EV’s) battery pack size, range, and more.

On Monday, Tesla’s VP of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy and Senior Design Executive Franz von Holzhausen told manufacturing industry veteran Sandy Munro that Tesla is targeting a battery pack of under 50kWh for the Cybercab, with “close to” 300 miles of real-world range. This would make the two-seater more efficient than any other EV currently in production, partially due to the two-seater’s highly-aerodynamic design.

Munro says he was expecting a battery pack ranging from 55kWh to 60 kWh, noting how much smaller Tesla is aiming to go. Before revealing the range targets, Moravy also detailed how the Cybercab’s aero wheel covers offer optimal aerodynamics to contribute to the impressive efficiency level.

“As much as Franz hates door handles, I hate the wheel-tire interaction, and this is really the best way for us to get the most aerodynamic wheel-tire we could get,” Moravy explains.

From the wheel covers to the overall design, however, von Holzhausen explains how much thought has gone into making the vehicle so efficient—even down to its shape.

“This car is actually really unique in terms of its teardrop shape,” von Holzhausen said. “It’s actually quite narrow in the rear compared to the front. Obviously, you covered the discs, but the aero efficiency is a huge factor in getting to higher range with a smaller battery pack.”

The fact that the vehicle only has two seats also contributes to some of the design choices Tesla was able to implement, as the executive continues to explain.

“Really, because it’s a two-seater we were able to really narrow the hips on this car, and when you come to the rear, you actually start to see how narrow it is, but it’s not unattractive,” he adds.

Credit: Tesla | X

🚨 Lars Moravy, Tesla’s VP of Vehicle Engineering, says the Cybercab is not “painted” and they developed a new process where the polyurethane paint is injected into the panel at the same time as manufacturing

(via Ride the Lightning podcast) pic.twitter.com/5g7vjdOpNn

— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) February 23, 2025

READ MORE ON TESLA CYBERCAB: Tesla reveals design inspiration behind Cybercab’s gold color

Moravy reiterates that Tesla is already starting to install production equipment for the Cybercab at Gigafactory Texas, which was revealed in a shareholder’s letter in late January. He also echoes plans that Tesla is aiming for prototype builds for the Cybercab by this summer, along with a launch event around early 2026.

In recent weeks, increasing numbers of Cybercabs have also been seen testing at Giga Texas, and longtime drone pilot and factory observer Joe Tegtmeyer said that he saw as many as six driving around the site on Monday.

Last month, Moravy also alluded to plans to make the Cybercab “road-trip-capable,” going long distances with wireless charging along the way to make it completely autonomous for passengers.

Along with talking about the Cybercab’s super-efficient design, the two executives also reiterate discussions about the art deco-inspired design of the robotaxi and the larger Robovan, both of which were unveiled in an event in October. Munro and the executives also go on to sit inside the Robovan while talking a bit about its design.

You can see footage from Teslarati‘s first full ride in the Cybercab below, as captured at the “We, Robot” event in Southern California. Or, check out the full Cybercab and Robovan episode from Munro, Moravy, and von Holzhausen below that, clocking in at just under 25 minutes.

🎥: Our FULL first ride in the @Tesla Cybercab pic.twitter.com/6gR7OgKRCz

— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) October 11, 2024

Tesla says its Cybercab wireless charging efficiency is ‘well above 90%’